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London - Britain's former prime minister Margaret Thatcher
was recovering in hospital on Saturday following a minor operation to remove a
growth in her bladder.

Friends said the 87-year-old, Britain's only female premier,
was doing "fine" following the operation, but was likely to remain in
hospital over Christmas.

Dubbed the "Iron Lady", Britain's prime minister
from 1979 to 1990, was admitted to hospital on Thursday after feeling unwell.

Thatcher's spokesperson said on Friday that the former
Conservative Party leader was "absolutely fine" following the
operation.

Subdued figure

In recent years, Thatcher - the 20th century's longest
continuous occupant of 10 Downing Street - has been a subdued figure.

After a series of minor strokes, she was told by doctors to
quit public speaking in 2002. With dementia taking hold, she has appeared
increasingly rarely in public.

Her daughter Carol once revealed that the former premier had
to be repeatedly reminded that her husband Denis had died in 2003.

Public relations executive Lord Tim Bell, Thatcher's adviser
for her three general election victories, said she had undergone
"minimally invasive" surgery.

"She felt unwell earlier in the week. She went to the
doctor. The doctor sent her to the hospital," he told BBC television.

"The hospital examined her, discovered a small growth
in her bladder and they decided to remove it using what they describe as
minimally invasive surgery, so no heavy anaesthetics and so on.

"The operation was a complete success, her condition is
satisfactory. she'll stay in hospital for a few more days to recuperate and
then she'll go home.

"It's very simple, very straightforward, very minor
operation. No big deal.

"All operations are difficult, doesn't really matter
what age you are. But she's very tough and the doctors are perfectly happy, the
surgeons are happy and they say the operation's been completely
satisfactory."

Thatcher's daughter has been at her side in hospital. Her
son Mark is believed to be outside Britain on holiday.

Asked how long she might remain in hospital, Bell said:
"A few days is the phrase being used.

"It's perfectly possible she'll be there across
Christmas."

Health

Two years ago Thatcher missed an 85th birthday party at
Downing Street laid on for her by Prime Minister David Cameron.

In July, she was not well enough to attend a Downing Street
lunch thrown by Cameron for Queen Elizabeth II, to celebrate the monarch's
diamond jubilee.

The other surviving former prime ministers - Gordon Brown,
Tony Blair and John Major - all attended.

But in October, Thatcher was sufficiently well to mark her
87th birthday with lunch at a restaurant in London with her son and his wife.

Thatcher's health was thrust into the global spotlight this
year when US actress Meryl Streep starred in a controversial Hollywood film
about her.

The Iron Lady drew criticism from Cameron and
others for concentrating on her dementia. Streep won an Oscar for the role.

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